What is a Waiver or Hold Harmless Agreement?
A waiver or hold harmless form is a legal document that protects one party from liability for injuries or damages that may occur during a service or activity provided by another party. It ensures that the service provider cannot be held legally responsible for any risk incurred.
Property owners that allow equine activities on their property require participants to sign a waiver or hold harmless form.
Maryland does not have an equine immunity statute, which means that horse owners and operators are not protected from liability for injuries caused by the inherent risks of equine activities. The state uses the contributory negligence standard to determine damages, meaning that if a plaintiff’s own negligence contributes to their injury, they may not recover any damages. Maryland’s approach to equine liability is based on the legal doctrine of assumption of risk, which applies to all individuals who come into contact with horses.
Click here for details on equine liability in Maryland, as published by the Maryland Horse Council (July 17, 2018)
What does this mean for FADS shows?
The management of all FADS shows require that a waiver / hold harmless agreement be submitted by you. The owners of each FADS show facility have their own separate form for you to submit.